Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has called for the involvement of all political parties in the planning of the country’s development.

Consequently, he has urged the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), to engage political parties and their flagbearers in the formulation of its long-term National Development Policy Framework towards socio-economic development, and the promotion of “an all-inclusive commitment by the parties”.

Former President Kufuor made the call on Tuesday in Accra, when Dr Nii Moi Thompson, the Director-General of the NDPC, paid a courtesy call on him, to invite the former leader to the launch of the Commission’s forum on the new policy framework, on Tuesday, August 4, in Accra.

He stated: “I don’t think you can tie the hands of any incoming leader in a multi-party system of government. But it is necessary to use all the parties in national development planning. They are the active ingredients because when you talk of a sitting president, you also talk of the people who are challenging him,” former President Kufuor stated.

Former President Kufuor asked the NDC to seek the views of flagbearers, who might have varied manifestoes, ideologies and philosophies.

He asked the Commission to consider, the digital age, spatial development, and the inter-connectivity of the world,the ECOWAS Common Custom Union and the Trans-Regional Highway and Railways in its planning.

Former President Kufuor also tasked the Commission to tackle urbanisation to prevent slums like Sodom and Gomorrah in Accra, adding that national planning should involve the public, and the private sector, which was the engine of growth of the economy.

Dr Thompson said the policy framework that would take effect from 2018 to 2057, was expected to bind governments, without necessarily tying their hands, but rather serve as a guide to successive governments.

Dr Esther Ofei-Aboagye, Vice Chairperson of the NDPC, gave the assurance that the Commission would consider the engagement of flagbearers and political parties in the formulation of the policy.

She said, the Commission would also seek the views of senior high school students about the country and what they envisaged for themselves in the future. - GNA